Autistic kids get their own movie outings

Tammy Kroll, 7, plays in front of the movie screen at a “sensory-friendly” showing of “Toy Story 3” at AMC Mission Valley 20 for autistic kids and their families. The volume is lowered and there is more lighting.
— David Brooks

Tammy Kroll, 7, plays in front of the movie screen at a “sensory-friendly” showing of “Toy Story 3” at AMC Mission Valley 20 for autistic kids and their families. The volume is lowered and there is more lighting.
— David Brooks

A buzz of chatter, clapping and moaning continued throughout the showing of “Toy Story 3” at AMC Mission Valley 20. Children moved up and down the aisles, some venturing upfront to touch the screen.

But no moviegoers complained of bad parenting, and no ushers rushed to control the movement or murmuring.

That’s because typical etiquette rules don’t apply at “Sensory Friendly Films,” said Cherri Cary, president of San Diego’s chapter of the Autism Society of America. The special showings create a more comfortable movie environment for families affected by autism — who often can’t go to movies otherwise.

The monthly films, sponsored by the Autism Society and AMC Entertainment, are part of an effort to increase recreational activities available to autistic children and reflect the growing awareness of autism, Cary said.

This month’s showing, “Despicable Me,” is today at 10 a.m. at the Mission Valley and Palm Promenade AMC locations.

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Children with autism can show any combination of symptoms to varying degrees. Some common attributes are emotional outbursts, repetitive behaviors, delayed language or motor skills and unusual reactions to how things sound, smell, taste, look or feel.

At sensory-friendly movies, theater workers leave on some lighting and turn down the volume. Film previews, which could confuse or distract the children, are left out.

Children with autism often have trouble paying attention and are sensitive to light and noise, said Cary, whose son Benjamin, 11, was diagnosed with autism at 3 years old. Many of them can’t sit quietly through an entire two-hour movie.

“For a lot of families, it’s the first time they’ve been to the movies in years and years and years,” Cary said.

That was the case for Laurie Snyder, 43, who hadn’t taken her 16-year-old son, Matthew Snyder, to the movies because he was scared of them. The sensory-friendly program changed that.

“If he makes noises or acts autistic in any way, it’s an environment where that’s safe,” said Snyder at the “Toy Story 3” showing in June. “The kids can be themselves.”

Cary said parents use the films as a teaching tool. They ask their children to follow social norms when they can, but it’s still an understanding audience if they can’t.

“Ideally, we’d like them to be able to go to a movie in a normal setting,” she said.

The local Autism Society chapter has been focusing on expanding recreational autism support services, such as pool parties and summer camps, to give parents and children a place to be themselves, without any judgment.

“Noise is OK; splashing is OK,” Cary said of the pool parties. “We get it. We understand that’s how our kids are.”

Rebecca Estepp, government relations manager for the autism research group SafeMinds, said better treatments and support services have appeared because they’ve had to.